- The Centers for Disease Control is monitoring a patient
in Albuquerque who has symptoms similar to a deadly pneumonia-like illness
that has killed nine people in Asia.
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- The man, who recently returned to Albuquerque from a
trip to Hong Kong, does not have a confirmed case of severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS.) However, the symptoms are similar enough that it has the
CDC and the Department of Health concerned.
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- The CDC has issued a health alert to travelers to and
from Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore regarding the disease.
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- The Health Department says the man at Albuquerque's Presbyterian
Hospital visited Hong Kong two weeks ago and may have been exposed to the
illness.
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- The man checked into the hospital a couple of days ago
with symptoms similar to those described with SARS, flu-like symptoms.
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- Presbyterian Hospital says this is not a confirmed case
of the illness. Federal and state health officials are awaiting results
of diagnostic studies.
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- In a statement, the hospital said, "The measures
recommended by the New Mexico State Department of Health and the Centers
for Disease Control are being carefully followed to protect both the patient
and our staff."
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- The CDC is alerting the medical community to be aware
in this age where global travel happens rapidly, potentially bringing what
was an isolated disease into the United States.
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- Over the last three weeks there have been 167 reported
cases of SARS in Asia. Fourteen people in the US are being examined for
symptoms similar to the illness.
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- The man at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque remained
in the intensive care unit in "fair" condition Monday evening.
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- http://www.kobtv.com/archive/2003/march/17/illness.htm
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